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19 Oct 2016

Water

Are you suffering from DEHYDRATION?

Most people would not think so, well that is until they do the pinch test. The chart above is quite clear, and possibly none of us drink as much water as we should. Or may-be we actually are drinking too much water. Please read further....

Just how much water should we be drinking each day?
This actually depends upon our weight.

Is there a danger of drinking too much water?

Although uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. - Mayo Clinic

Dilutional hyponatraemia is also known as water intoxication. It's caused by low sodium or salt levels in the blood. ... "Too much water leads to a dilution of sodium in the blood, which effectively drowns cells. - BootsWebMD

Factors that influence water needs

You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.

Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 1.5 to 2.5 cups (400 to 600 milliliters) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, and the duration and type of exercise.

Intense exercise. During long bouts of intense exercise, it's best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you're finished exercising.

Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.

Illnesses or health conditions. When you have fever, vomiting or diarrhea, your body loses additional fluids. In these cases, you should drink more water. In some cases, your doctor may recommend oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. You may also need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions, such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases, may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.

It may come as a bit of a surprise to find that some experts have started calling into question the health benefits of drinking lots of water, suggesting that consuming more than the recommended one-and-a-half to two litres of it a day is more than the body needs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ (Origin)- Mayo Clinic

Professor Whiteley, also an expert in hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) is convinced that over-hydration — drinking excessive amounts of water — is linked to many of the extreme sweating problems his patients suffer from; some so severe they are considering surgery to remove their sweat glands.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Drinking large amounts of water, particularly at the end of the day, can disrupt sleep, too. ‘When we fall asleep, our brains release ADH, anti-diuretic hormone, to slow down kidney function and stop us feeling the need to urinate during the night,’ says Professor Whitely.

‘If you drink two or three glasses of water in the evening, however, all that extra fluid working its way through your system is likely to override the effect of ADH, fill your bladder, and have you getting up in the small hours. It can then be difficult to fall back to sleep.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

And there have been other cases of people fatally ‘overdosing’ on water. ‘Drinking too much water too quickly — and we’re talking litres of water here, rather than cupfuls — can play havoc with the delicate balance of salts in the body,’ says Dr Frankie Phillips, of the British Dietetic Association.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

‘If we drink a lot of water in a very short space of time, the kidneys can’t remove the excess fluid from our bodies quickly enough, and our blood becomes more diluted than it should be, with very low concentrations of salt.

‘The salt levels in blood and body cells are usually the same. But if the blood suddenly becomes more dilute, it can cause cells, in particular brain cells to swell. This can cause pressure in the skull, which can lead to headaches, and in serious cases, hyponatraemia or water intoxication, which can be fatal.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

HOW TO TELL YOU'RE DRINKING ENOUGH

The amount someone should drink will vary slightly according to their size, how active they are and the environment they are in. The bigger and more active you are, the more fluids you will need. You will also need to drink more if you are in a warm climate.

The best way to tell if you need a drink is to go by thirst. If you’re thirsty, you need a drink — it’s as simple as that. You can also tell if you need to drink more or less fluids by keeping an eye on the colour of your urine. Ideally it should be a light, straw colour. Any darker probably means that you’re dehydrated and need to drink more.

If it’s very pale or almost clear — you are drinking too much and need to slow down a little.